Steamboat CO police prepare dentist embezzlement case

Steamboat Springs — Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Alpine patients have been entrusted to Dr. Paul Andrews for care.

Steamboat Springs Police Department detectives expect to hand over a downtown embezzlement case to the Routt County District Attorney’s Office by the end of the week, Detective Dave Kleiber said Tuesday.

Detectives are investigating $30,000 to $40,000 reported missing from Alpine Family Den­tistry.

An initial report Oct. 27 stated that about $14,000 was missing from the office, and Kleiber said police still are working with victims to tally the full amount of the theft.

Police said they have identified a woman as the suspect, but because she has not been charged with a crime, the Steamboat Pilot & Today is not releasing her name. Kleiber said the woman has hired a lawyer, and he is trying to talk to her again before the case goes to the court.

Calls to Alpine Family Den­tistry go to a message from dentist David Banks, who says that “due to unforeseen circumstances,” he is not offering dental care. A message on Banks’ listed home phone number said the number is disconnected.